A wave of opposition candidate disqualifications that have predominantly affected members of the opposition National Unity Platform ahead of Uganda’s January 15, 2026 elections has raised fresh questions about the independence and credibility of the Electoral Commission.
Critics especially political leaders, civil society actors and human rights advocates, say the pattern threatens the integrity of the electoral process and echoes Uganda’s long history of election-related violence and institutional capture.
Supporters of the ruling NRM and security officials, however, maintain that the EC is merely enforcing nomination requirements as provided by law, insisting that strict compliance is essential to delivering a credible election.
The 2026 polls will be Uganda’s seventh general election since the promulgation of the 1995 Constitution. The EC established under Article 60 of the Constitution, is mandated by Article 61 to organise and conduct free and fair elections, voter registration, nomination of candidates, and declaration of results.
The Electoral Commission Act (Cap. 140) empowers the EC to verify nomination documents and disqualify candidates who fail to meet eligibility requirements.
However, as polling day draws closer, allegations of executive interference have intensified, particularly because many of the disqualifications affect candidates challenging high-profile NRM incumbents.
By December 23, 2025, at least 11 parliamentary candidates had been disqualified nationwide, majority of them from NUP, Uganda’s largest opposition party.Most disqualifications were attributed to technical violations, including invalid supporter signatures and alleged forged academic documents.
Under Section 28(1)(c) of the Parliamentary Elections Act (Cap. 177), parliamentary candidates must submit nomination forms supported by at least 10 valid signatures of registered voters from their constituency.
Critics question why many of the cited irregularities were not detected during the nomination exercise conducted in September 2025, but were instead raised weeks later, as campaigns gained momentum.
The confirmed NUP disqualifications include: Mathias Walukagga (Busiro East Constituency, Wakiso District): Disqualified on December 9, 2025, for allegedly using forged academic documents. His NRM opponent is Susan Nakawuki Nsambu, the incumbent MP and a staunch ruling party loyalist.
Christopher Ategeka (Buyanja County, Kibaale District): Disqualified on December 26, 2025, for invalid nomination supporters. He was challenging Finance Minister Matia Kasaija, the NRM incumbent who has held the seat since 2011.
Geoffrey Kayanja (Nakaseke North Constituency, Nakaseke District): Disqualified on December 30, 2025, after a complaint revealed that six of his 10 nomination supporters failed to sign properly. His NRM opponent is Professor Wilber Ahebwa, a first-time candidate backed by the ruling party.
Geoffrey Kayanja (Nakaseke North Constituency, Nakaseke District): Disqualified on December 30, 2025, after a complaint revealed that six of his 10 nomination supporters failed to sign properly. His NRM opponent is Professor Wilber Ahebwa, a first-time candidate backed by the ruling party.
Ntanda Shalif (Isingiro North Constituency, Isingiro District): Disqualified on December 26, 2025, amid claims of coerced retractions from nomination supporters. He faced off against Bright Rwamirama, the NRM incumbent and State Minister for Animal Industry.
Additional NUP disqualifications have been reported in Isingiro District Woman MP race and other constituencies, among others across the country fueling perceptions of selective targeting.
NUP leader Robert Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine) has accused the EC of colluding with security agencies to eliminate political competition, alleging that the process has been weaponised against the opposition. The party has challenged several EC decisions in court, with cases still pending.
Although non-NUP opposition figures, including UPC President Jimmy Akena and PFF’s Arnold Ankunda Best, have also been disqualified, analysts note that the scale and concentration of exclusions disproportionately affect NUP, which won 57 parliamentary seats in the 2021 elections.
EC Chairperson Justice Simon Mugenyi Byabakama has defended the process, stating that disqualifications may continue until polling day in order to uphold legal and eligibility standards.
Uganda’s electoral history is marked by recurring violence. John Orach of the National Council of Elders notes that every general election has experienced unrest of some form, yet the country has failed to learn from past mistakes. Many elders, he says, now avoid active participation for fear of physical harm.
Political scientist Dr. Sabastiano Rwengabo attributes heightened tensions to Uganda’s winner-takes-all political system, where electoral defeat often means total exclusion from power. He argues that this fuels “die-or-die” politics and advocates constitutional reforms, including proportional representation, to promote inclusive governance and reduce electoral hostility.
Human rights groups have criticised the EC for rhetoric they say mirrors “military talking points,” particularly warnings directed at voters seeking to observe vote counting. They argue such statements undermine laws that allow citizens and agents to remain within 20 metres of polling stations to ensure transparency.
The EC is also been faulted for delays in cleaning and releasing the national voters’ register, a legal requirement many say is critical to preventing fraud.
Political science student Moses Bwambala points to early controversies involving the EC chairperson, including post-certification questions over Bobi Wine’s nomination signatures, as evidence of compromised independence.
The 2026 elections are numerically the largest in Uganda’s history. The EC reports 21,681,491 registered voters across 146 districts, up from approximately 18 million in 2021.
Eight presidential candidates were nominated, including President Yoweri Museveni (NRM) and Robert Kyagulanyi (NUP). More than 2,000 parliamentary candidates were initially nominated across 353 constituencies, although final figures remain unsettled due to ongoing disqualifications.
Voting will take place at 50,739 polling stations, supported by 109,142 biometric voter verification kits approved by Cabinet to enhance electoral security, a move that has also significantly increased election costs.
With ballots already printed and distributed, pressure is mounting on the Electoral Commission to ensure public confidence and avert unrest. As one elder cautioned, Uganda must “break the echo chambers” and rebuild dialogue across political divides.
With polling day fast approaching, the credibility of the 2026 elections, and the future of Uganda’s democratic trajectory are under scrutiny.
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